Happy New Year! If you searched for a rental on Apartments.com last year, you contributed to the 681 million visits to Apartments.com in 2024. But how did your searches measure up against the majority? With 2024 in the rearview mirror, let’s take a look at how renters searched Apartments.com throughout the year.
How Renters Search
Mobile vs. desktop
Renters overwhelmingly prefer to search for a rental on a mobile device, with 74% of searches on Apartments.com coming from mobile devices and 26% from desktop computers.
Touring
Renters search differently in a post-COVID world. 37% of renters are willing to rent sight unseen, and two-thirds of renters want virtual tours.
What Renters Search For
Most Searched Cities
The top five most searched cities on Apartments.com in 2024 were:
If you’re looking to move to one of these cities, you’re in good company! According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 reports, about 5.5% of the United States’ population lives in these five cities.
Rental size
One- and two-bedroom rentals dominate 70% of searches by rental size.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 reports, 27.6% of occupied households were one-person households, and the average household size was 2.54 people. With smaller households and solo living growing more popular, it’s no wonder that one- and two-bedroom rentals reign supreme.
Price range
Because rent prices vary by city, the prices that renters are willing to pay for a rental are evenly spread between $899/month and $3,000+/month. Competitive rental markets like New York City and Los Angeles require renters to pay more than they would in Cincinnati or San Antonio.
As far as the national rental market is concerned, 2024 was a stagnant year compared to years prior. 2024 started with a national average monthly rent of $1,545. At the end of the year, the national average increased by 1% for an average monthly rent of $1,560.
Amenities
The top five most searched amenities on Apartments.com in 2024 were:
- In-unit washer/dryer
- Air conditioning
- Parking
- Dishwasher
- Utilities included
The popularity of these amenities proves that renters seek convenience and functionality when looking for a rental and view features like a community pool or fitness center as luxuries. Understandably, renters prioritize amenities that make their lives easier.
Keywords
While renters largely prioritize function over form when looking for a rental, the top keywords provide extra insight into what renters look for.
The top five most searched keywords on Apartments.com in 2024 were:
- Character/style
- Water access/front
- View(s)
- Deals/specials
- New/renovated
The popularity of keywords like “deals” and “specials” shows that, despite the even spread of rent ranges, renters prioritize affordability and frugality regardless of where they want to live.
Renters also appreciate the finer things, though. The other top keywords include “character,” “waterfront,” “views,” and “renovated,” revealing that renters appreciate aesthetics as much as they value convenience.
Our data from 2024 shows that renters value convenience in every aspect of their rental search, from how they search for a place to the amenities they prioritize. Many renters live alone and search for elements that will elevate their lifestyle, like waterfront rentals or beautiful views, as well as affordability. With renters’ focus on comfort and convenience in 2024, we can expect the same from 2025, in both rental search trends and interior design trends.
